a journey toward non-traditional wedded bliss, with style

Remember the couple from A Picnic Wedding? Well, we just got our invitation (hand-delivered too!) this weekend. I love when an invitation sets the tone for an event, and this one did the job perfectly. Locally made recycled paper, earthy handcrafted details, and simple vintage font – absolutely perfect! The envelope was especially cool and had a great texture to it which you can’t see in the pictures. I can’t wait to attend!

Finding vendors in Columbus has been remarkably easy. Too easy I would say, if it wasn’t for the fact that I have a fairly defined idea of what I’m looking for number one, and number two the internet is a girl’s best wedding planning friend these days.

As soon as I sawMarit Hanson’s awesome concert poster save the dates on Junebug weddings, I was smitten. Then I found out that not only does she have a whole range of invitations on Etsy that range from classic to modern to whimsical, but she just happens to live in Columbus. It was meant to be!

We met with Marit to talk about our invitations and gave her a whole range of scattered ideas. We know we want something unusual and bold, with possibly an art spin on the concert poster since our wedding is at a museum. Basically we gave her free rein, because judging from her work she will come up with something fabulous! Here are some samples of her work, and for more you can also check out her Etsy store.

The name says it all: Chewing the Cud’s invitation line is witty, irrevent at times, but most importantly gorgeous. Their signature collection has looks that vary from rustic to classic to mod. My personal favorite is probably the “Schooldays Crush” set which hits the right note between kitschy and cute. Their Bespoke line of personally designed invitations also has some amazing inspiration, including invitations designed around a To Kill A Mockingbird theme. The only downside is the invitations are a little pricey, but if you want to make a statment with your wedding stationary, I think the money would be well spent here. And the looking is free! Thanks toTales of a Female Husbandfor sharing this link.

When I first noticed the term “B list” in wedding magazines, I skimmed right over it along with advice on china patterns and the pros and cons of pre-nups. Now that I’m farther along in my planning, it keeps popping up and it seems I can’t ignore the issue any longer. I apologize if the following post seems just a tad bitchy…and by all means if you have had a different experience with this feel free to contradict me.

Let me start by stating for the record what I understand about this concept. You split your guests up into two lists: A listers which are the people that are a) really cool b) will give you sweet presents or c) you really care about and/or obligatory family. These fortunate ones are the people that you immediately invite to the wedding. Then you have your B list. These are people you will invite only if said A list people decline your invitation.

I understand having a budget and feeling conflicted about who to invite. We’ve already done our guest list, and while it was a relatively painless process there were still a few decisions we hesitated over. You want to include everyone without going overboard and still maintain a balance between friends and family. I get that.

The one thing that every advice site/wedding magazine seems to agree on about this topic, is that if you do use the list system, your guests cannot find out. Even if you avoid the mistake of the couple in an article I read (don’t mark large A’s and B’s on the invitation envelopes) chances are your guests will wise up anyway when their invitation arrives much later than everyone else.

However, I really think it should go one step further. Using this system implies to me that you care more about the overall number of guests at your event rather than who those guests are. Its all about priorities. If you have 250 people you feel you MUST invite and your venue only fits 150, maybe you should consider a different venue. On the flip side, if your heart is set on that particular venue then be prepared to make some hard choices. When you’re deep enough into a relationship to be getting married, you know that most things in life take compromise. So don’t make your guests feel like they’re the last kids picked for dodgeball at recess.

Everyone probably knows by now that I have a weakness for anything custom designed or personalized, which is why I’m crushing on these awesome illustrations by Donna at ButterfliesKiss. She contacted me with a link to her work and in addition to our mutual appreciation for Candy Girl, I saw that we shared a basic wedding mantra: your wedding should be one of a kind. Donna takes inspiration from your wedding, whether it is your dress, your colors, your cake, or your flowers and creates a unique artistic version of your event. The illustrations can be used for anything from gifts to invitations or cards.

What makes this business especially suited for BridalCheek is that she specializes in diverse weddings, which covers a wide range from ethnicity to lifestyle and soon to style as well! She has a new line of “indie bride” illustrations in the works, that will feature more edgy brides as well as a line of sexy illustrations to be used for bachelorette parties or naughty personal stationary…how cool is this chick? I asked Donna a few questions about her work and she had some great insights to share about her work and her own wedding.

What sets your card company apart from others? What elements from a wedding do you use to make the cards personal and unique?

“I think the most important thing that sets my cards apart is that they are personally illustrated by me and can be customized with a drawing in the likeness of the bride, her bridesmaids and colors, her particular dress style, and her flower choice. The other thing is that my cards are racially diverse. I’m told by Asian and African American brides that designs reflecting diversity are almost non-existent in the stores.”

Do you have plans to add any other categories to your cards?

“Yes! I’m currently working on an alternative section where I will feature designs for the indie bride, “tattoo bride”, “Rock n’ Roll bride” etc.- and a brides of different cultures section featuring brides wearing their traditional wedding clothing. I also welcome any custom request. Finally- I am also in the process of creating a third website featuring sexy girlie illustrations. Targeted to bachelorette parties, lingerie bridal showers or just personal love notes- (for the Candy Girl in us all) Should be up in a week or so- I will forward.”

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to those who are planning a wedding?

“Your photos will be what you have left when all is said and done. Choose your photographer carefully.”

What was your favorite part of your own wedding?

“Our ceremony in the rose garden of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.”

The possibilities for her work are endless. How sweet of a gesture would it be to ask your friends to be your bridesmaid with a card personally designed to look like them in your wedding colors? Adorable. As for me, I’m pretty set on those bachelorette invitations…here is a sneak preview!